Fuel cell system and method for providing electrical energy

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fuel cell system ( 100 ) for providing electrical energy. The fuel cell system ( 100 ) comprises a blower ( 101 ) for conveying anode gas, a movement sensor ( 103 ) for detecting measurements of a movement of a paddle wheel of the blower ( 101 ), and a controller ( 105 ). The controller ( 105 ) is configured to assign a state of a composition of matter in an anode circuit of the fuel cell system ( 100 ) to measured values of the blower ( 101 ) detected by the motion sensor ( 103 ) in a speed range between a start speed and a predetermined target speed using a predetermined assignment scheme, and to adjust the fuel cell system ( 100 ) depending on the assigned state.

1 . A fuel cell system ( 100 ) for providing electrical energy,
 wherein the fuel cell system ( 100 ) comprises:   a blower ( 101 ) for conveying anode gas,   a motion sensor ( 103 ) for detecting measured values of a movement of a paddle wheel of the blower ( 101 ),   a controller ( 105 ),   wherein the controller ( 105 ) is configured to:   assign a state of a composition of matter in anode circuit of the fuel cell system ( 100 ) to measured values of the blower ( 101 ) detected using the motion sensor ( 103 ) in a speed range between a start speed and a predetermined target speed using a predetermined assignment scheme, and adjust the fuel cell system ( 100 ) depending on the assigned state.   
     
     
         2 . The fuel cell system ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein   the controller ( 105 ) is configured so as to determine a gradient of the first and second order of the measured values detected in the speed range, and   the assignment scheme assigns respective values of the gradients of the first and second order to corresponding concentration values of hydrogen and/or water and/or nitrogen in the anode circuit.   
     
     
         3 . The fuel cell system ( 100 ) according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein   the assignment scheme assigns a state “low hydrogen concentration” to respectively detected measured values when a gradient of the first order of the measured values lies above a predetermined first gradient threshold and a gradient of the second order of the measured values lies below a predetermined second gradient threshold, and   the assignment scheme assigns a state “average hydrogen concentration” to respectively detected measured values when the gradient of the second order of the measured values in a speed range takes on values in a speed range that are 50% less than the target speed, which are less than zero and greater than a predetermined negative threshold, and   the assignment scheme assigns a state “low hydrogen concentration” to respectively detected measured values when the gradient of the second order of the measured values takes on values in the speed range that are 50% less than the target speed, which are lower than the negative threshold.   
     
     
         4 . The fuel cell system ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein   the controller ( 105 ) is configured so as to actuate a purge valve ( 107 ) of the fuel cell system ( 100 ) depending on a detected state of a composition of matter.   
     
     
         5 . The fuel cell system ( 100 ) according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein   the assignment scheme assigns a state “water in the anode circuit” to the detected measured values when values of a gradient of the first order of the detected measured values fluctuate between positive and negative values, and that the controller ( 105 ) is configured so as to actuate the purge valve such that the purge valve ( 107 ) periodically opens and closes in the event that the assignment scheme assigns the state “water in the anode circuit” to the respective measured values.   
     
     
         6 . The fuel cell system ( 100 ) according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein   the controller ( 105 ) is configured so as to open the purge valve ( 107 ) continuously until the target speed of the blower ( 101 ) is reached in the event that the assignment scheme assigns the state “low hydrogen concentration in the anode circuit” to the detected measured values.   
     
     
         7 . The fuel cell system ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein   the motion sensor ( 103 ) is a speed sensor and/or torque sensor for determining a momentum applied to the blower.   
     
     
         8 . The fuel cell system ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein   that the assignment scheme assigns a state “iced purge valve” to the detected measured values when values of a gradient of the second order of the detected measured values lie below a predetermined purge threshold after a purging operation.   
     
     
         9 . A method ( 300 ) for operating a fuel cell system ( 100 ),
 wherein the method ( 300 ) comprises:   a determining step ( 301 ) for detecting measured values of a movement of a paddle wheel of a blower ( 101 ) of the fuel cell system ( 100 ) for conveying anode gas in a speed range between a start speed and a predetermined target speed, by means of a motion sensor ( 103 ),   an assigning step ( 303 ) for assigning measured values detected by the motion sensor ( 103 ) in the speed range to a state of a composition of matter in an anode circuit of the fuel cell system ( 100 ) using a predetermined assignment scheme, and   an adjusting step ( 305 ) for adjusting the fuel cell system ( 100 ) depending on the state assigned in the assignment step ( 303 ).   
     
     
         10 . The method ( 300 ) according to  claim 9 ,
 wherein   the adjusting step ( 305 ) includes an actuation of a purge valve ( 107 ) of the fuel cell system ( 100 ).